* Barter: The direct exchange of goods and services for other goods and services without the use of money.
* Wampum: Beads made from shells, used by Native Americans and accepted by the colonists as a form of currency.
* Foreign coins: Coins from other countries, such as Spanish reales and British shillings, were used in the colonies.
* Colonial paper money: Some of the colonies issued their own paper money, but these were often not widely accepted and could be difficult to use.
As the colonies grew and prospered, the need for a standardized currency became more pressing. In 1792, the United States Mint was established and the dollar was adopted as the national currency.